Abstract

The interaction of an injected electron towards a quantum dot(QD) containing a single confined electron is investigated using a flexible time-dependent quantum mechanics formalism, which allows both electrons to move and undergo quantum transitions. Different scenarios combining quantum dot dimensions, dielectric constant, injected wave packet energy, and width were explored, and our main results are: (i) due to the large characteristic transitions times between the confined state in the quantum dot and the delocalized state in the continuum, it is relatively difficult to ionize the occupied QD by Coulomb interaction solely and (ii) the charging state of the quantum dot can be sensed by direct injection of charges.

Received 14 August 2012Accepted 25 September 2012Published online 02 November 2012

Acknowledgments:

This work was financially supported by the Brazilian National Research Council (CNPq), under Contract No. NanoBioEstruturas 555183/2005-0, Fundao Cearense de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Cientfico e Tecnolgico (Funcap), CAPES, Pronex/CNPq/Funcap, the Bilateral program between Flanders and Brazil, and the Flemish Science Foundation (FWO).